Storage register



G. woLF 3,119,101

STORAGE REGISTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 21, 1964 Filed oct. 18, 1960 x N .mi .l

Jan. 21, 1964 G. wQLF STORAGE REGISTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1960 Jan. 21, 1964 G. WOLF STORAGE REGISTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 18. 1960 R wwf 2 V f f1 m/m f. i n u J l P P 3 a r a 55). m T l ,m 1\...a E E W/ /K l l I l l l l I l I|| 0123456769 W i PF1 0 2 F 3 Y T a /G/f \||m/r f so, DA V .9. l E@ 4 5 :6. 7 8 9 .Alllllllld y a 5 P a W 2f Vw ma w 123456769 4 a mmSvvXkG, M ,/2 mw n E r f. Z W a.. M n w 9 mw MN f n 4 r #E sa ,w e 6 f e i n d M w d s@ d C P E C C ../f 0 5 l l U. I .o rl 1MM H Hf MNHN@ l E L a NI y United States Patent O 3,119,101 STORAGE REGISTER Gerhard Wolf, Munich-Spilla, Germany, assigner to Kienzle Apparate Gmnblel., Villingen im Black Forest,

Germany y Filed st. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 63,314 Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 19, 1959 11 Claims. (Cl. 340-174) The present invention rela-tes to apparatus for storing information. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for the stepwise displacement of information or information groups stored in a computer chain. This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 666,096, tiled lune 17, 1957, entitled Storage Register, now abandoned.

In electronic computing yapparatus it is necessary to store and displace information in an apparatus electrically arranged in a chain 0r series connection of storage elements. Such information represents yes-no information, for example. For this purpose it is necessary to use magnetic chain elements or element groups which are capable of exhibiting more than one remanent state. it is also desirable that the elements or element groups be arranged in a preselected series arrangement so that whatever information is stored in the series connected elements can be displaced along the chain in a stepwise manner at desired times by changing the respective remanent state of the elements in the series connected chain.

Many different chain arrangements using different types of chain elements have been constructed. 'For example, multivibrators having hot cathode tubes have been so utilized. Also, cold cathode tubes have been used for such chain arrangements. Transistor arrangements have been proposed in place of the tube switching arrangements. In all of these conventional apparatus, the conductive condition of each element is varied between conductive and blocked conditions to exhibit lthe desired yes-no information.

Such apparatus is utilized in counters and scalers, for example, wherein multivibrators are used. One half of the multivibrator tube will be conductive when the second half is non-conductive, and vice versa.

The tube and ltransistor chain arrangements have several disadvantages, primarily due to the high cost of the apparatus as well as the high current consumption required for operating such devices. In addition, the various parts of the chain circuits wear out fairly readily and require a high replacement and maintenance cost.

ln order to avoid high current consumption, due to the permanent current flow required even when the information is not being displaced in the chain circuit, the use of ferromagnetic cores has been proposed in the chain circuit. These ferromagnetic cores exhibit rectangular hysteresis loops. A plurality of windings are wound about the ferromagnetic cores. These windings include the primary, the secondary and the displacement winding. One such arrangement has been described in my copending patent application Serial No. 643,078, now Patent No. 2,955,759'.

One disadvantage of known electromagnetic core arrangements is the high winding cost due to the utilization of at least three windings for each of the cores. -In addition, there are further winding difliculties introduced since the cores upon which the windings are wound should be as small as possible so that not too much space is used for the chain apparatus. Therefore, the winding room on the core is severely limited.

It is also highly desirable to be in a position of shifting or displacing information along the chain of cores arbitrarily in one or the opposite direction.

Moreover, it is in certain cases necessary to convert Edlli Patenti-a aan. 2i, ram

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numerical information stored in a chain of cores into information representing the 9complement or 10- complement of the particular stored number information. None of the above mentioned operations are feasible with known core chain arrangements.

With the present invention, it is possible to utilize a ferromagnetic core having only one or two windings so that the cores may be made very small in physical size and still eliminate the winding dii'liculties of the previous chain apparatus elements. It is also possible to combine a core chain with an arrangement for forming a complement number storage. v v

lt is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an information storing apparatus which overcomes the disadvantages of conventional apparatus.

A second object of the vpresent invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for storing information in a chain circuit and for displacing such information through the circuit in a stepwise manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for shifting information stored therein, in one or two directions, by means of electrical impulses applied only in a preselected direction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for shifting information stored therein, in one or two directions, by means of electrical impulses, which impulses may be applied in more than one direction.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists of an electromagnetic shift register arrangement comprising, in combination, at least one chain of ferromagnetic core members, including `a first core member, a last core member and at least one intermediate core member, said core members being capable of assuming a iirst and an opposite second state of magnetization, the first of said states representing stored information; input means for applying storage impulses of predetermined polarity to said chain of core members and including a first input winding on at least said first core mem-ber and input pulse generator means connected for injecting storage impulses into said rst input winding and for thereby changing the state of magnetization of said first core member from said second to said lirst state thereof; shifting means including at least one shift winding on each of said core members, respectively, said shift windings being connected in series with each other as a set to carry shift impulses applied thereto, and shiftpulse generator means connected for, and capable of, injecting a continuous series of said shift impulses with predetermined polarity into said set of shift windings for shifting thereby y stored information along said chain of core members by changing the state of magnetization of the respective core members; output means for delivering output impulses from said last core member when after storage of information therein a shifting impulse is applied thereto, said output means including at least one output winding on said last core member; and impulse-responsive control.

means connected between said output means and said shift pulse generator means for being actuated by said output pulses and for preventing, upon actuation of one of said output impulses, the application of further shifting impulses out of said series thereof to said shifting means.

In a particular aspect of the invention, a two-way shift register is provided which comprises, in combination, a plurality of switching means each including a ferromagnetic core member having a substantially rectangular hysteresis loop characteristic and a first and apsecond remanent state of magnetization, one of said states representing stored information, the other state representing no information stored, each of said core members being provided with a rst and a second shift winding, all of said first windings being connected in series as a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in a first direction, all of said second windings being connected in series as a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in an opposite direction; input means for alternatively applying single shifting impulses to either one of said sets of series-connected shift windings in the respective direction for changing with every impulse said one remanent state of the core of one of said switching means to its other state without affecting the other remanent state of the other cores, and for causing a counter-voltage of a polarity opposite to that of said impulse to be inductively set up in one of the windings of the core of said one of said switching means; a plurality of chargeable storage means respectively connected in parallel with each of said switch windings for being charged by a differential current determined by the difference between the voltage of one of said shifting impulses applied to the respective shift winding and the counter-voltage set up therein by a change of remanent state of the pertaining core, if effected by said shifting impulses; a plurality of discharge circuits respectively connected between said chargeable storage means associated with each of said switching means and a shift winding of the next adjacent switching means for discharging across the latter and for changing the remanent state of the latter to its stored information representing state; a plurality of first rectifier means respecively arranged between each of said shift windings and the next following shift winding of the particular set of shift windings for permitting the transmission of a shift impulse from winding to winding of such set in the pertaining one of said directions, while blocking a counter voltage set up in a shift winding from being applied to the next adjacent shift winding in the opposite direction; and a plurality of second rectifier means respectively arranged in circuit with each of said chargeable storage means for permitting the charging of the particular storage means upon changing of the remanent state of the core member of the associated switching means while blocking the discharge of the particular storage means across the shift winding of the associated switching means, whereby stepwise shifting of stored information from core member to following core member is caused by application of single shifting impulses independently in either direction of the register chain.

The novel features which are considered as characteristie for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is an electrical schematic diagram of an apparatus capable of carrying out the purposes of the present invention for shifting information in a single preselected direction and for forming the complement of a stored number;

FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the cores have only a single winding and a complement can be formed, the information also being shifted in a single direction;

FIG. 3 is an electric schematic diagram of another preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the cores have each two windings and stored information can be shifted in two different directions, yet a complement of stored numbers can be formed in both cases; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a calculating device incorporating the invention.

Referring now to PIG. 1, it can be seen that the illustrated chain of cores or shift register 1 has ten annular ferromagnetic cores 20, 21 29 which, in this example, are assigned to represent, when correspondingly magnetized, information representing the digit values to 9, respectively. The first core 29 has an input winding b in circuit with a pulse generator 2 while the last core 29 has an output winding c with an output connection 16. Each of the cores Ztl-29 has a shift winding a which are connected in series with each other by a connection i5. The whole set of series connected shift windings a is in circuit with a shifting pulse generator 3 which is connected to inject shift pulses through the connection 15 into the set of shift windings a. The consecutive cores Z0-29 are further interconnected inductively by transfer means for transmitting stored information from core to core along the chain. For this purpose, each core has, like the core 2t), an input winding b and an output winding c, as indicated by way of example at the core 21. The output winding c of each core is connected in series with the input winding b of the next following core. However, this series connection between consecutive cores includes also, as is shown in detail only between cores 23 and 29, a rectifier 5l, a capacitor 52 and a resistor S3. If information is stored in one of the cores, then this core has one state of remanent magnetization while all the other cores are in the opposite state of magnetization. Assuming that iirst a storage impulse is applied by the the pulse generator 2 to the input winding b of the irst core 2t) so as to store the information 0," then all the other cores 21 to 29 would be in the opposite state of magnetization. When now a shifting impulse is applied by the shift generator 3 through line 15 to the entire set of shift windings a, only the magnetization of the first core 20 will be affected, while the magnetization of the remaining cores remains unaffected. The shifting irnpulse will reverse the magnetization of core 20 whereby an output impulse will be generated in the output winding c of core 20 whereby the respective capacitor 52 between cores 2t) and 2l will be charged through the pertaining rectifier 51. After the end of the impulse produced in the just mentioned output winding c, the capacitor 52 will discharge through the resistor 53 provided between cores 20 and 21 and to the input winding b of the next following core 21 which is assigned to the numerical value l." Thus information has been shifted from core 20 to core 21. It can be seen that if a series of consecutive shifting impulses is furnished by the shift generator 3 in the same manner as described, the information stored in any one of the cores will be shifted stepwise with each impulse until it reaches the core 29. The next following shifting impulse will produce through the output winding c of core 29 an output impulse available in the output connection 16.

The output impulse can be utilized in various ways. In normal operation, it may be transmitted either through a gate TK to the core assigned to the value O of a consecutive register or chain, e.g. in a calculating machine, or through a gate TR to a transfer storage means frequently used in calculating machines. Also the output impulse may be applied through the gate TR back to a second input winding 20 on the iirst core 20. When the gate TK is open, then the various registers are connected in series which is required for serial calculations and for carrying out decimal order shifting. if the gate TR is opened, then the particular register 1 is connected as a ring which is required for parallel calculations.

The 'arrangement according to FIG. l comprises also complement-control means for the purpose of forming in the chain of cores information storage representing the complement of a digit value represented by information already stored in any one of the cores. Depending upon the particular use of the register arrangement it will be desirable or necessary to form such a complement either relative to the digit value 9 or to the digit 10. This is particularly the case when the shift register is incorporated in a decimal counting orcalculating portion of electronic calculating devices, especially if addition and subtraction is to be carried out in order to arrive at a totalized result.

Assuming for instance that in a calculating machine comprising a plurality of shift registers a certain number value has been stored, and that now a number value is deducted therefrom by `counting backwards which is larger than the stored number, then the backward counting operation would pass through the positions of the counting arrangement and this operation would end up with the indication (if no complement formation is provided) of a number which is not the correct negative value. For instance, the thus indicated incorrect value may be 3725. Actually, this number has been pro- `duced by counting black or deducting from 0 the number value 6275, and therefore the indication should be correctly 6275. In order to obtain this correct indication the 9comp-lement of 3725 has to be formed and then a correction unit of the value 1 has to be added to the indica-ted number value in the first or the lowest order position. This can be illustrated by the following tabulation:

-ln certain special cases it is also desirable or necessary to form in the shift register in a similar manner a complement.

It sliould be considered also that sometimes diiiiculties.

arise in calculating machines Iwhich are provided with printing apparatus `for printing the number values indicated or stored in the calculating device. The conventional printing wheels of well known printing devices start with the digit 0 and end with the digit 9. Without complement-formation a simple transmission of the stored or calculated number values to the printing device is impossible except with very complicated control means because it would not be possible to move with the first step of the type bars or type wheels the "0 into printing position. Also in these cases it is highly advantageous to first form la complement of the stored or calculated number value whereafter this value can be transmitted to the printing devices simply by injecting ten forward counting shifting impulses.

lFIG. 1 illustrates complement-forming control means according to the invention. The illustrated arrangement includes both means for forming a 9complement and a l0complement, but it is not necessary to provide a shift register Iarrangement simultaneously with both complement-control devices simu-ltaneously. lt may be preferable to have only one or the other.

It may be assumed that tlhe above mentioned shift pulse generator 3 is a conventional pulse generator capable of issuing shifting impulses of a polarity causing a revers-a1 of the magnetization previously produced in core 2@ by an input pulse from the pulse generator 2. The shift pulse generator 3 may have three inputs, namely one input for calculation pulses derived from some calculating control means for causing the shift pulse generator 3 to'produce a number of shifting impulses so as to move or shift digit information stored in any one of the cores Ztl-29 as many steps as required by the particu-lar calculating opera-tion; a second input connected with line 18 may be provided for causing the generator 3 to issue only one single shifting impulse to the set of shift windings of the shift register; the third input connected with the line 14 is designed to receive starting or stopping impulses, as described further below, the starting impulse serving to cause the generator 3 to issue -a series of consecutive shifting impulses to the set of shift windings of the register, While a stopping impulse would interrupt the production of such series of consecutive shifting impulses and prevent, after its application, the issue of further shifting impulses out of such series thereof.

A start-stop generator 4 -is connected between the output line i6 of the shift register 1 and the last mentioned third input of the shift generator 3. The start-stop generator 4 constitutes an impulse-responsive conrol means and may be Ia conventional monostable pulse generator which would, in response to an output impulse applied thereto from the output connection i6 through the gate .TL'provided the latter is open, apply a starting impulse via line 14 to the shift pulse generator 3. However, upon application of an .actuating impulse via line i3 to the startstop generator 4, the latter would issue a stopping impulse to the shift pulse generator 3 in order to interrupt the continuation of the transmission of shiftingimpulses out of the above mentioned series thereof.l

For making possible the formation of a 9comple ment, a series combination comprising switch means 7, and two delay devices 5 and 6 lare connected between anoutside source of pulse energy and the above mentioned input line 13 of the start-stop generator 4; for the purpose of causing the formation of 'a "1W-complement, a second switching device ii is connected between said source' of outside pulse energy and the input pulse generator 2 by a connecting line 1li, but a junction point l@ in the connection l2 between the delay devices 5 and 6 is connected with a junction point lli' in the line il for reasons given further below.

The operation of this arrangement is as follows:

1 0-Complem ent F ormaton it may rbe assumed that through preceding operations information representing the digit value 3 has been' stored in the fourth core marked 3. Thus, this core is magnetized to one state of remanent magnetization while all the other cores of the register are in the opposite state of magnetization which represents no information stored. By closing the switch device S impulse energy vwill be :applied simultaneously to the input pulse lgenerator 2 and via `the junction points` lll and lil to the delay device `6. Consequently, rst the input pulse generator 2 will bel triggered to inject one input impulse into the rst input Winding b of the lirst core 201 whereby the digit value 0 is stored as information in the core 2li. Shortly thereafter, `depending upon the setting of the delay device 6, the same impulse energy is applied as an actuating impulse via line i3 to the `start-stop generator 4 so that the latter issues a starting impulse and applies the latter Ivia line 14 to the shift-generator 3 so as to start the latter to transmit a lseries of consecutive shifting impulses via the line 1S" to the entire set of `shift windings a of the register chain 1. Each of Ithe consecutive shifting impulses causes the information now stored in the first and fourth core to be shifted one step in forward direction. The procedure can be recognized from the following tabulation:

Starting condition 3 stored.

After input impulse 0, 3 stored. After iirst shifting impulse "1, 4 stored. After second shifting impulse 2., 5 stored. After third shifting impulse 3, 6 stored. After fourth shifting impulse 4, 7 stored. After `fifth shifting impulse 5, 8 stored; After siXtlh shifting impulse 6, 9 stored.4 After seventh shifting impulse 7 stored,

It can lbe seen lthat after the seventh shifting impulse the magnetization of the last core Z9 has been changed black to that state of magnetization which represents no information stored. By this last change of magnetization of the core 219 an output impulse has been generated in the output winding c which is now delivered from the output lline 16 through gate Tl and line 16 to the startstop generator 4 whereby the latter is caused to apply ya `stopping impulse via line` i4 to the Shift generator 3 so as to prevent further transmission of shifting impulses. As can be seen, the previously stored information 3 has been converted in this manner to its 10c0mplement, namely Ito 7.

It should be noted that if the previously stored digit value 3 should be needed again after the just described complement forming operation, the same cycle may be repeated so that a complement of 7 is formed which of course is 3.

It should be understood that the above description of the shift generator 3 and of the startstop generator e is only given by way of example. Exactly the same results would be otbained if the start-stop generator d would be of the conventional generator type which upon application of an actuating impulse via line 13 would start producing a consecutive series of pulses and would be stopped from continuing this series of impulses upon the application of the output impulse through line 16', and the shift generator 3 would be in this case a conventional type of pulse generator which would upon application of each single impulse via line 14 or via line 13 issue one shifting impulse via line 15.

9C0mplement Formation Assuming again that in the shift register 1 a digit value 3 has been previously stored as information in the fourth core marked 3, the switching device 7 would have to be closed for forming the 9complement of 3. Upon closing the switch device 7 impulse energy is applied -simultaneously to the delay device and, via line 1S, to lthe shift generator 3. The impulse traveling from the junction point 17 via line 18 to the shift generator 3 causes the emission of one shifting impulse via line to the entire set of shift windings a of the register `1. Hereby, the information previously stored in the fourth core marked 3 is shifted to the next following core marked 4. However, the same original impulse will, Iafter a delay determined by the setting of the delay device 5, travel via junction points,` 1) and 11i and line 11 to the input pulse generator Z so as to trigger the latter to apply an input impulse to the input winding b of the iirst core 20 whereby information representing the digit value 0 is stored in this core. Hereafter, with a further delay determined by the setting of the second delay device 6, the above mentioned impulse traveling through 'che connections 12 land 13 arrives at the start-stop generator 4 as an actuating impulse whereupon a starting impulse is applied via fline 14 to the shift generator 3 so that now a series of consecutive shifting impulses is applied via line `15 to the entire set of shift windings cz of the register 1.

The procedure will be best understood from the following tabulation:

Original condition 3 Stored.

As in the previously described procedure, the seventh shifting impulse has reversed the magnetization of the lmt core 29 so that again an output impulse has been generated in the output Winding c and applied via output line 16, gate TJ and line 16 to the start-stop `generator 4 so that also in this case now the continuation of delivering shifting .impulses to the register is stopped. The original information 3 stored in the register 1 has been converted into its 9complement, namely 6.

Also in lthis case, if desired, a repetition of the same procedure would restore, by a second complement-formation, the original stored information 3.

It will be understood that the gates TK, TR and Tl may be controlled alternatively by suitable control devices that may be contained in a calculating or computing machine of `which the particular shift register 1 is a component. In this manner, depending upon requirements, one

or the other type of operation of the register chain can be called for.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the arrangement for carrying out a complement-formation is exactly the same as in FIG. 1 and all |the respective components are designated with the same reference numerals. Also the operation is exactly the same. The difference between the embodiment of FIG. 2 and the embodiment of FIG. 1 described above, is the construction of the register chain 1a different from the register chain 1 described above,

As can bc seen, the register chain 1a composed of annul'ir cores 20 to 29', preferably also made of ferromagnetic material having a substantially rectangular hysteresis loop characteristic, has, on each core, with the exception of the first core 29 and the last core 29", only a single shift winding 1'20 to cz'gg, respectively. The first core 20 has a rst input winding b connected with the input impulse generator 2 and a second input winding 29" connected with the output line 16 which is connected with the output winding c of the last core 29.

All the just mentioned shift windings are connected in series with each other. Due to the fact that each of the cores has a rectangular hysteresis characteristic, it is possible for each of the cores to be saturated magnetically in either a positive or negative direction, the saturated condition being maintained by rcmanence after cessation of a magnetizing impulse. In this type of material, there is no appreciable difference between saturated and remanent magnetization. If an impulse is applied to the shift Winding of any one of the saturated cores, the polarity of the electrical impulse will determine whether any counterelectrornotive force is induced in the winding due to the change of ux in the particular core.

It should be understood that each of the cores may be switched, by the application of a shifting impulse to its shift winding, from one remanent state of magnetization (which is ordinarily a state of magnetic saturation) to its other remanent state. One state may be termed positive tremanent state and the other may be termed negative remancnt state. It may be assumed further for the purpose of this explanation that one of the cores is in one remanent state representing a stored information while all `the other cores are in the other rcmanent state representing no information stored. The purpose of the application of a single shifting impulse is to transfer the stored information from the one core in which it is stored to the next following core. This means that the shifting impulse has to switch any one core being in the information storing state to the no information stored state," while shifting the next following core from the no information stored state to the stored information representing state, while leaving all the remaining cores in their no information stored state. For the purpose of detinition it is further to be assumed that if the information stored state is a positive remanent state, a negative shifting impulse will have to be applied, while if it is desired that the stored information representing state is to be a negative remanent state, then a positive shifting impulse will have to be applied.

For the purpose of this explanation, it may be assumed that the second mentioned mode of operation is chosen and that information is stored in the core 21'. Then, this core 21' would be in its negative remanent state while the remaining cores 20 and 2.2 to 29 are in their positive remanent state. For shifting the stored information from core 21 to core 22' a positive shifting impulse is to be applied at the terminal 6G; Evidently, this shifting impulse will now pass through all the series connected windings [1,20 to (1,29.

It is further apparent that the positive shifting impulse will tend to magnetize all of the cores but will be unable to do so in the case of the cores 20 and Z2 to 29 bccause these cores are already in a positive remanent state. However, the shifting impulse will switch thc rcmnnent state of the core 2i to the positive remanent state representing no infomation stored. The reversal of flux in this core necessarily sets up in the shift winding azl a counter-EMF. or counter-voltage having a polarity exactly opposed to the polarity of the shifting impulse just applied to that winding. The effect of this countervoltage is similar to the effect of a suddenly appearing resistance in the winding 21. This effect will be utilized as described below.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, each of the shift windings azo to rzzg has connected in parallel therewith a series combination of a capacitor and a half-wave rectifier. For instance, the shift winding a'gois connected in parallel with the capacitor 3ft and rectifier 46', the shift winding :1'21 is connected in parallel with the capacitor 31 and the rectifier 4d. Each of these series combinations form a charging member as will be explained below. A junction point between each two consecutive shift windings is connected directly with a junction point in the connection between two consecutive ones of the above mentioned series combinations. In addition, there is a junction point between the rectifier and capacitor of each series combination thereof, these junction points being indicated by the numeral @2*6?. A resistor Si is connected between the junction points '62 and d3, a resistor 52 between junction points oliand 65, and so on, as can be seen from FlG. 2. Now `will be described the effect of the above mentioned counter-voltage set up in the shift winding a21.

he impulse energy iiotwing from the input terminal 69 via Winding 5121 toward winding 61'22 vwill be diverted partly from the junction point between the shift windings a20 and 1'21 toward rectifier di, i.e. into the charging circuit connected in parallel with the Winding @'21 and thus charge the condenser or capacitor 3l. By properly dimensioning the characteristics parameters of the elements involved, a differential current will flow through `the charging circuit, this current being determined by the difference between the total impulse voltage applied to the shift winding 0121 and the somewhat smaller amount of counter-voltage induced in this winding by the change of magnetization of the core 2l. Consequently, the capacitor 3l is charged by the just mentioned dierential current. change of magentizatio-n of the core 2l is completed, the capacitor 3i discharges through a discharging circuit comprising, in addition to this capacitor, the resistor 522 and the shift winding d'2; of the next followingT core 22. The polarity of this discharge current is evidently such that now the positive remanent state of the core 22" is switched to its negative remanent state. In thi-s manner the stored information has been shifted from the core 2d to the core 22.

It can be seen that the discharge current of the capacitor 3d is prevented from flowing back through the shift winding 1'21 due to the provision of the correspondingly polarized rectifier di. Evidently, the parameters orf the discharging circuits are to be chosen in such a manner that a discharge, for instance in the above mentioned discharging circuit, of the capacitor 3l will still take place after the flow of the impulse energy from the input terminal 631 through the series connected shift windings ago to @'29 has ended. Evidently, if the duration of the ow of the impulse energy would last longer than the discharge of the capacitor 3d the much stronger impulse energy flowing through the winding a22 would prevent the change of magnetization of the core 22 through the flow of the discharge current from the capacitor 3l.

In an analogous manner the application of a further shifting impulse to the terminal oil would shift the information from the core 22. to the core 23', and so on.

The output winding c on the last core 2.9i functions exactly in the same manner as the above described output winding c in FIG. l.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3. Basically, the arrangement for complement-control, i.e. -for forming either After the shifting` impulse has subsided and thev the 9-complement or the 1W-complement of a digit 75 value stored in the register chain illustrated in FIG. 3 is the same as the arrangements described and illustrated in FIG. l and FlG. 2. {owes/cr, the register chain of FIG. 3 differs from that illustrated in FlG. 2 by the fact that it can lbe used for shifting stored information in two opposite directions, namely in the direction marked by the arrow A or in the direction marked by the arrow B. Therefore, the connections between the devices 2 to '8 and the register chain are arranged to pass through a three-pole change-over switch S which in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 permits operation of the register chain in the direction A, while in the opposite position, the switch S would permit operation of the register chain in the opposite direction B. Therefore, an-d Ifor obvious reasons, the shift impulse output line l5 is replaced by two alternative lines 15a and 15b', the connection between the pulse generator 2 and the input ends of the register chain is split into a first input line lla and a second line lib.

As can be seen from FG. 3, the register chain comprises ten cores of the same type as mentioned above, marked 10 to 19'. Every one of these cores carries a first shift winding Ztii to 291, respectively, for the shift in direction A, and each of said cores is provided with a second shift winding 292 to 292, respectively, for shiftling information in the direction B. The core 10 is the lfirst core for direction A and the last core for direction B, and similarly the core i9 is the iirst core `for direction B and the last core for the direction A. The core l0 is provided with an input winding b connected with input lines lla and lila and with an output winding c connected with an output connection i611. Similarly, the core 19 is provided with an input winding bl connected with input lines 1lb and 1lb', and with an output winding c connected with an output line los. The shifting 4impulse .input line 15h is connected to a shifting input terminal 691 while the alternative shifting impulse input line llSb is connected to a shifting impulse input terminal 602. In this case, it is assumed that the shifting impulses are positive impulses but this does not aect in any way the characteristic operation of the register chain.

The shifting circuit arrangement for direction A, i.e. on the right-hand side of the core chain, as seen in FIG. -3, is entirely analogous to the corresponding shifting circuits on the left-hand side of the arrangement for direction B. Moreover, each of these shifting circuits is entirely analogous to that described above with respect to FlG. 2. For instance, in the right-hand circuit the shift windings 291 to 291 correspond to the shift windings 4'20 to a29, the rectiiiers Mld to 491 correspond to the rectiriers lil to 49, respectively, the capacitors Stil to 391 correspond to the capacitors 30 to 39, respectively, and the resistors 501 to Stil correspond to the resistors 5i to 59. In a similar manner, in the left-hand portion the shift windings 292to ZtlZ correspond to the shift windings Ztl to 291, respectively, the capacitors 392 to 362 correspond to the capacitors Stil to 391, respectively, the rectifiers 492 to 402 correspond to the rectifiers 40d to 491, respectively, and the resistors 592 to 512 correspond to the resistors Still to 81, respectively. Of course, the sequence of operation and the polarization of the `above mentioned rect-ifiers corresponds on either side of the diagram to the direction in which the information is to be shifted.

Since the shift register according to FIG. 3 is to be` operated alternatively in direction A or in direction B, each one of the two shifting circuit arrangements comprises, in addition, a set of rectifiers '7M to 759i, respectively, interposed between consecutive shift windings, and similarly another set of rectiliers 7912` to 702r interposed respectively between the consecutive shift windings of the left-hand shifting circuit arrangement. This is necessary in order to prevent a shifting impulse applied to one of the shifting circuit means for shifting in one direction from affecting the other shifting circuit arrangement designed for shifting information in the opposite direction.

All the above explanations of the operation of the register chain according to FIG. 2 and of the complementforming operation explained with reference to FIG. l apply analogously to the embodiment of FIG. 3.

It may be added that for the purpose of a ring connection of the chain a line fda including the gate TR is connected between the output line 16a. of core 19" and the input line 11a leading to the input winding b of the core 10. Similarly, a connection 16.15 including a second gate TR is connected between the output line 16b of core 19 and the input line 11b leading to the input winding b" of the core 19". In FIG. 3 the connection including the additional gate TK has been omitted in order not to confuse the illustration. Obviously, an analogous connection could be easily added to the circuits of FIG. 3.

It is of importance to note that the two-way shift register illustrated in FIG. 3 lis of substantial value by itself independently of the additional connections and arrangements for the purpose of forming complement information storage in the chain. This type of a two-way shift register may be used advantageously in any other arrangement where the shifting of information along a register chain in either one of two directions is desired or required.

FIG. 4 is intended to illustrate in a more general but rather diagrammatic way in what manner shift register `arrangements according to the invention can be usefully incorporated in an electronic calculating machine. The respective calculating machine is not subject of this invention and therefore only those portions thereof which are necessary for explaining the operation of the shift register arrangement according to the invention are illustrated. Actually, only two shift registers 1 and 1 are shown, each being assigned to or associated with `a different order position of a multi-order number processed in that particular calculating machine.

All the control means typical of a calculatin g machine for carrying out certain calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc., are preferably omitted in order not to confuse the diagram.

As in FIGS. l3, the input pulse generator is indicated by the numeral 2, the shift pulse `generators are indicated by numerals 3 and 3', respectively, while the impulseresponsive control means are represented by the gates 22, 22', respectively, and the flip-flop devices 21, 21', respectively.

It has to be assumed that before the start of a calcula.- tion or computing operation any digit informations stored in any one of `the registers i, 1', etc. are eliminated or cancelled by conventional means so that no information whatsoever is stored in any one of the cores to 9, respectively of the registers 1, 1', etc. The input windings of all the first cores t) of the various registers are connected with each other and with an input pulse generator 2 by an input line 24. As a first step a zero-input impulse is applied by the generator 2 to all of the first cores 0 of the registers 1, f', etc. so that now information representing O is stored in all of the rst cores it. From a multivibrator, not shown, a continuous sequence of pulses a, b, c, etc. is furnished via an input line 2d. Depending upon what digit value is to be introduced to and stored in one or the other of the registers 1, 1', etc., one or the other ofthe gates 22, 22' is opened under the control of the corresponding control devices of the calculating machine for a corresponding period of time, by corresponding actuation of the respective flip-flop device 21 or 21 via control line 23, since the individual gates 22, 22 are under the control of the respective flip-fiop devices 2l, 21. Depending upon lthe duration of the open `condition of the gates 22, 22', respectively, a nurnber of the above mentioned impulses r1, b, c, etc. corresponding to the digit value to be stored in the respective register will be applied through the opened gate 22, 22 respectively to the shift generators 3, 3', respectively, whereby the particular shift generator is caused or triggered to inject a corresponding number of shifting impulses via the respective connection 15b, 15a, respeo tively, to the shifting circuit means of the respective register 1, 1', respectively. Consequently, the previously stored information in the first cores t) of the respective registers will be shifted along the chain of that particular register until the desired information representing a particular digit value is stored in the respectively corresponding core of that register.

For instance, at the end of such an input operation the digit value 3 may be stored in the fourth core of the register 1, and the digit value 6 may be stored in the seventh core of the other register 1. For the purpose of transmitting such 4information to the printing devices of the machine, it is necessary to first form the complements of 'the stored digit values. In order to carry out this procedure, first an impulse x derived from the operation of a corresponding control key or switch of the calculating machine is applied via l-ine 23 to the flip-flop devices 2l and 21', which places both into a condition in which they will cause opening of the associated gate 22 and 22', respectively. Immediately thereafter, as indicated by the time ydiagrams on the left-hand of FIG. 4, an impulse r1 out of the series of impulses furnished by the multivibrator is applied via line 20 and the opened gates 22 and 22 to the shift pulse generators 3 and 3', respectively, whieh, in turn, transmit a corresponding shifting impulse via lines 15b and 15a, respectively, to the registers 1' and 1', respectively. Hercby, the information stored in the fourth core of register l and in the seventh core of yregister t1', respectively, are shifted one step so that the information stored in these two registers now represents 4 and 7, respectively. Assuming that delay means are provided as described above with respect to FIGS. l-3, a zero-input inpulse y is applied during the interval between the impulses a and b of the series thereof furnished by the multi-vibrator, via line 24 to the input impulse generator 2, whereby again information representing O is stored in all the rst cores 0 of the registers l, 1', etc. Immediately thereafter, the second impulse b out of the series thereof furnished by the multivibrator is applied via the still open gates 22, 22 respectively to the shift pulse generators 3, 3', respectively, and now the stored information in the registers 1 and 1', respectively, namely the information representing 0, and 4 in register 1, and 7 in register 1', are shifted one step in forward direction along the respective register chain. Therefore, now in the register r1 the information stored corresponds to l in the second core and 5 in the sixth core thereof, while in the register 1 the information stored corresponds to 1 in the second core and 8 in the ninth core thereof. Upon the application of the further following input impulses c, d, e, etc. furnished by the multi-vibrator via line 20, the two items of stored information in either one of the registers 1 and 1 are further shifted step by step until in either one of the registers 1 and 1 the information leaves the respective last core in the form of an output impulse. In the present example, this will occur first in the register 1', namely `after the `application of the fourth pulse d via input line 2t). The information 6 originally stored in this register has been moved by the fourth shifting impulse from the last core as an output impulse and has been applied to the lip-fiop device 21 whereby the latter has been changed to a condition in which it causes closing of the `gate 22. Consequently, further impulses furnished by the multi-vibrator via line 2t) cannot be applied anymore to the register 1. This is illustrated in the time diagram at the left side of FIG. 4 in the line referring to shifting impulses passing through the line 15a.

After seven shifting impulses have been applied to the other register 1, the same occurs and further shifting imi3 pulses cannot be applied anymore via line b to the register l. Consequently, the information previously stored in the first core of register 1 has been shifted to the seventh core so as to represent 6.

lt can be seen that in the above described manner the original-ly stored information 3" in register 2l and 6 in register l has been transformed into the storage orf the respective 9-complement values 6 in register l and 3 in register l.

Now, the complement-forming operation is completed and the digit values now stored in the electronic calculating device, i.e. in the registers, can be transmitted to the mechanical printing devices in any suitable manner. According to one advantageous method ten impulses would be furnished from the mechanical printing device in synchronism with the stepwise movement of the printing device control means into all the registers l, l', etc. of the electronic calculating device. Each of the control means of the printing device will be arrested by a corresponding electromagnet which is controlled by an output impulse issued by the output winding of the last core of the respectively associated register l, 1', etc., respectively. Consequently, after the completion of this procedure each printing element of the printing device would be positioned for printing the digit value which Was first stored in the associated register before the complement-forming procedure.

ln FIG. 4, the diagrams arranged below the registers l and 1', respectively, are intended to illustrate graphically in what manner the various impulses a, b, c, etc. furnished by the multi-vibrator are applied consecutively to the ten cores of the respective register so as to shift the information stored therein and representing the respective digit values until upon application of the last impulse which causes an output impulse from the last core of this particular register, a stop impulse is derived from the particular register. rPhe diagrams illustrate clearly how the `first stored digit value 3 in register l is converted into its complement value 6i while in the other diagram it is shown how the originally stored digit value 6 is converted into its complement value 3.

-It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of electromagnetic shift register arrangements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an electromagnetic shift register arrangement including means for forming the complement of stored digit information, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made fwithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, `fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. -ln an electromagneticshift register arrangement, in combination, at least one chain of ferro-magnetic core members, including a first core member, a last core member and at least one intermediate core member, said core members having a substantially rectangular hysteresis characteristic and being capable of assuming :a first and an opposite second state of magnetization, the first of said states representing stored information; input means for applying storage impulses of predetermined polarity to said chain .of core members and including a first input winding on at least said rst core member and input pulse generator means connected for injecting storage impulses into said first input winding and for thereby changing the state of magnetization of said first core member from said second to said first state thereof; shifting means including at least one shift winding on each of said core members, respectively, said shift windings being connected in series with each other as a set to carry shift impulses applied thereto, and shift pulse generator means connected for, and capable of, injecting a series of said shift impulses with predetermined polarity into said set of shift windings `for shifting thereby stored information along said chain of core members by changing the state of magnetization of the respective core members, said shift pulse generator means having input means for receiving triggering impulses and being capable of issuing said series of consecutive shifting impulses as long` as triggering impulses are applied to said inputvmeans; output means for delivering output impulses from said last core member when after storage., of information therein a shifting impulse is applied thereto, said output means including at leastone output winding on said last core member; impulse-responsive control means connected between said output means and said shift pulse generator means fol' being actuated by said output impulses and Afor preventing, upon actuation by one of said output impulses, the application of further shifting impulses out of said series thereof to saidshifting means, said impulse-responsive control means comprising a monostable start-stop pulse generator means havingoutput means connected with said input means of said shift pulse generator means for transmitting said triggering impulses, respectively, thereto, and first input means connected lto `said one outpu-t Winding of said last core member for receiving said output impulses therefrom, and second input means connected to an outside pulse energy source for receiving actuating impulses, said monostable pulse generator means being capable of issuing said triggering impulses whenever actuated by one of said actuating impulses, and of discontinuing said triggering impulses whenever one of said output impulses is applied thereto; and complement-control means -for forming in said chain of core members information storage representing the 10W-complement of a digit value represented by information stored in any one of said core members, said complement-control means comprising zero-input means for causing rst the application of a zero-representing input impulse from said input pulse generator means to said first input windingof said -rst core member, and comprising blocking means for permitting the application of a shifting impulse to said set of shiftwindings only subsequently to said zero-representing input impulse.

2. In an electromagnetic shift register arrangement, in combination, at least one chain of ferro-magnetic core members, including a first core member, a last core member and at least one intermediate core member, said core members having ta substantially rectangular hysteresis characteristic and being capable of `assuming a first and an opposite second state of magnetization, the first of said states representing stored information; input means for applying storage impulses of predetermined polarity to said chain of core membersand including a first input winding on at least said first core member Iand input pulse generator means connected for injecting storage impulses into said first input winding and for thereby changing the state of magnetization of said first core member from said second to said first state thereof; shifting means including at least one shift winding on each -of saidcore members, respectively', said shift windings being connected -in series with each other as` a set to carry shift impulses applied thereto, :and shift pulse generator means connected for, and capable of, injecting a series of said shift impulses With predetermined polarity into said lset of shift windings for shifting thereby stored information along said chain of core-members by changing the state of magnetization of the respective core members, said shift pulse generator means having input means for receiving t 5 triggering impulses and being capable of issuing said series of consecutive shifting impulses as long as triggering impulses are applied to said input means; output means for delivering output impulses from said last core member when after storage of information therein a shifting impulse is applied thereto, said output means including at least one output winding on said last core member; impulse-responsive control means connected between said output means and said shift pulse generator means for being actuated by said `output impulses and for preventing,

`upon `actuation by one of said output impulses, the application of further shifting impulses out of said series thereof to said shifting means, said impulse-responsive control means comprising a monostable start-stop pulse generator means having output means connected with said input means of said shift pulse generator means for transmitting said triggering impulses, respectively, thereto, and first input means connected to said one output winding of said last core member for receiving said output impulses therefrom, and second input means connected to an outside pulse energy source for receiving actuating impulses, said monostable pulse generator means being capable of issuing said triggering impulses whenever actuated by one of said actuating impulses, and of discontinuing said triggering impulses whenever one of said output impulses is applied thereto; and complement-control means for forming in said chain of core members information storage representing the 9-complement of a digit value represented by information stored in any one of said core members, said complement-control means comprising first and second delay means and switch means connected in series between said second input means of said start-stop pulse generator means and said outside pulse energy source for applying upon operation of said switch means a delayed actuating impulse to said start-stop pulse generator means so as to cause the start of a series of said shifting impulses, a junction point between said first delay means and said switch means being connected with said shift pulse generator means for causing, upon operation of said switch means, immediate transmission of one shifting impulse to said set of shift windings in advance of said series of shifting impulses, a second junction point located between said first and second delay means being connected with said input impulse generator means for triggering the latter, upon operation of said switch means, to issuing a zero-representing input impulse to said first input winding of said first core member, said first delay means being dimensioned to delay the transmission of said zerorepresenting linput pulse until after the transmission of said one shifting impulse, and said second delay' means being dimensioned tto delay the start of said series of shifting impulses until after the transmission of said zero- -representing input impulse.

3. In an electromagnetic shift register arrangement, in combination, at least one chain of ferro-magnetic core members, including a first core member, a ilast core membert and at least one intermediate core member, said core members having `a substantially rectangular hysteresis characteristic and being capable of assuming a first and an opposite second state of magnetization, the first of said states representing `stored information, said chain comprising a plurality of switching members, each of said switching members having a ferro-magnetic core with a substantially rectangular hysteresis loop and one winding wound about said core, said windings of said switching members being connected in series, each of said switching members being operable between a first and a second conductive condition, at least one of said switching members being adapted to be in its first respective conductive condition while the remaining switching members are in their second respective conductive conditions so that the application of an electrical impulse to said series-connected windings of said switching members changes said one switching member from its first to its second conductive condition and produces a voltage output across only said one switching member, a plurality of charging members,

't each of said charging members being connected in parallel with the winding of one of said switching members respectively and being charged by a voltage output appearing across the winding of its respective switching member; a plurality of discharging members, each of said discharging members having opposite ends, one of said ends of each of said discharging members being connected in circuit with one of said charging members of one of said switching members respectively and the other of said ends of each discharging member being respectively connected in circuit with the winding of the next adjacent switching member in such a manner that the application of an electrical impulse to said series-connected windings of said switching members changes said one switching member from its rst to its second conductive condition and produces a voltage output across its respective winding to charge its respective charging member, said charged charging member subsequently discharging through its respective discharging member to change the conductive condition of said next adjacent switching member from its second conductive condition to its first conductive condition; input means for applying storage impulses of predetermined polarity to said chain of core members and including a first input winding on at least said first core member and input pulse generator means connected for injecting storage impulses into said first input winding and for thereby changing the state of magnetization of said first core member from said second to said first state thereof; shifting means including at least one shift winding on each of said core members respectively, said shift windings being connected in series with each other as a set to carry shift impulses applied thereto, and shift pulse generator means connected for, and capable of, injecting a series of said shift impulses with predetermined polarity into said set of shift windings for shifting thereby stored information along said chain of core members by changing the state of magnetization of the respective core members; output means `for delivering output impulses from said last core member when after storage of information therein a shifting impulse is applied thereto, said output means including at least one output winding on said last core member; and impulse-responsive control means connected between said output means and said shift pulse generator means for being actuated by said output impulses and for preventing, upon actuation by one of said output impulses, the application of further shifting impulses out of said series thereof to said shifting means.

4. In an electromagnetic shift register arrangement, in combination, at least one chain of ferro-magnetic core members, including a first core member, a last core member and at least one intermediate core member, said core members having a substantially rectangular hysteresis characteristic and being capable of assuming a rst and an opposite second state of magnetization, the first of said states representing stored information, said chain being a two-way shift register comprising a plurality of switching means each including a ferro-magnetic core member having a substantially rectangular hysteresis loop characteristic and a first and a second remanent state of magnetization, one of said states representing stored information, the other state representing no information stored, each of said core members being provided with a first and a second shift winding, all of said first windings being connected in series as a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in a first direction, all of said second windings being connected in series as a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in an opposite direction; input means for alternatively applying single shifting impulses to either one of said sets of series-connected shift windings in the respective direction for changing with every impulse said one remanent state of the core of one of said switching means to its other state without affecting the other remanent state of the other cores, and for causing a counter-voltage of a polarity opposite to that of said impulse to be inductively set up in one of the shift windings of the core of said one of said switching means; a plurality of chargeable storage means respectively connected in parallel with each of said shift windings for being charged by a differential current determined by the difference between the voltage of one of said shifting impulses applied to the respective shift winding and the counter-voltage set up therein by a change of remanent state of the pertaining core, if effected by said shifting impulse; a plurality of discharge circuits respectively connected between said charegable storage means associated with each of said switching means and a shift winding of the next adjacent switching means for discharging across the latter and for changing the remanent state of the latter to its stored information representing state; a plurality of first rectifier means respectively arranged between each of said shift windings and the next following shift winding of the particular set of shift windings for permitting the transmission of a shift impulse from winding to winding of such set in the pertaining one of said directions, while blocking a counter-voltage set up in a shift winding from being applied to the next adjacent shift winding in the opposite direction; a plurality of second rectifier means respectively arranged in circuit with each of -said chargeable storage means for permitting the charging of the particular storage means upon changing of the remanent state of the core member of the associated switching means while blocking the discharge of the particular storage means across the shift winding of the associated switching means, whereby stepwise shifting of stored information from core member to following core member is caused by application of single shifting impulses independently in either direction of the register; input means for applying storage impulses of predetermined polarity to said chain of core members and including a rst input winding on at least said first core member and input pulse generator means connected for injecting storage impulses into said first input winding and for thereby changing the state of magnetization of said first core member from said second to said first state thereof; shifting means including at least one shift winding on each of said core members, respectively, said shift windings being connected in series with each other as a set to carry shift impulses applied thereto, and shift pulse generator means connected for, and capable of, injecting a series of said shift impulses with predetermined polarity into said set of shift windings for shifting thereby stored information along said chain of core members by changing the state of magnetization of the respective core members; output means for delivering output impulses from said last core member when after storage of information therein a shifting impulse is applied thereto, said output means including at least one output winding on said last core member; and impulseresponsive control means connected between said output means and said shift pulse generator means for being actuated by said output impulses and for preventing, upon actuation by one of said output impulses, the application of further shifting impulses out of said series thereof to said shifting means.

5. In an electromagnetic shift register arrangement, in combination, at least one chain of -ferro-magnetic core members, including ya first core member, a last core member and at least one intermediate core member, said core members having a substantially rectangular hysteresis characteristic and being capable of assuming a first and an opposite second state of magnetization, the first of said states representing stored information, said chain being a two-way shift register comprising a plurality of switching members each including a ferro-magnetic core member having a substantially rectangular hysteresis loop characteristic Iand a first and a second remanent state of magnetization, one of said states representing stored information, the other state representing no information stored, each of said core members being provided with a first and a second shift winding, all of said first shift windings being connected in series as a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in a first direction, all of said second shift windings being connected in series las a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in an opposite direction, any one of said core members being in one of said remanent states being capable `of being changed to its other remanent state by the application of a shifting impulse of corresponding polarity to one of said sets of shift windings while the other ones of said core members being in the other remanent state remain unchanged by said shifting impulse, each of said switching members lbeing capable of setting up a counter-voltage opposite to that of a shifting impulse applied to the respective shift winding thereof provided that the remanent state of the particular core member is changed to the respectively opposite state by such shifting impulse; a plurality of charging circuits respectively associated with each of said first and second shift windings, each charging circuit including a capacitor means connected in parallel with the respective shift winding between the input thereof and a junction point between the output of the respective shift winding and the input of the next following shift winding of the particular set of shift windings for being charged by a differential current determined by the difference between the shifting impulse voltage applied to the particular shif-t winding and said counter-voltage set up therein by the change of the remanent state of the per-taining core effected by such shifting impulse; a plurality of discharge circuits respectively associated with each of said first and second shift windings, each of said discharge circuits including resistance means respectively connected between the input of a particular capacitor means associated wvith a particular shift winding and the output of the next following shift winding of the particular set of shift windings for discharging through said next following shift winding a change applied to the particular capacitor means by the change of remanent state caused in the core of the preceding switching :member and for thereby changing the remanent state of the core member associated with said next following shift winding; a plurality of first rectifier means respectively arranged between the output of each of said shift windings and said junction point between the particular shift winding and the input of the next following shift winding of the particular set of shift windings for permitting the transmission of a shifting impulse from winding to winding of such set in the pertaining rone of said directio-ns, while blocking a counter-voltage set up in a shift winding from being applied to the next adjacent shift winding in the opposite direction; a plurality of second rectifier means respectively arranged Within said charging circuits between the input of each of said shift windings and the input of the associated capacitor means for permitting the charging of the particular capacitor upon changing of the remanent state of the core member of the associated switching member while blocking the discharge of the particular capacitor across the shift Winding of the associated switching member; input means for applying storage impulses of predetermined polarity to said chain of core members and including a first input winding on at least said first core member and input pulse generator means connected for injecting storage impulses into said first input winding arid for thereby changing the state of magnetization of said first core member from said second to said first state thereof; shifting means including at least one shift winding on each of said core members, respectively, said shift windings being connected in series with each other as a set to carry shift impulses applied thereto,` and shift pulse generator means connected for, and capable of, injecting a series of said shift impulses with predetermined polarity into .said set of shift windings for shifting thereby stored information along said chain of core members by changing the state of magnetization of the respective core members; output means for delivering output impulses from said last core member when after storage of information therein a shifting impulse is applied thereto, said output means including at least one output winding on said last core member; and impulse-responsive control means connected between said output means and said shift pulse generator means for being actuated by said output impulses and for preventing, upon actuation by one of said output impulses, -the application of further shifting impulses out of said series thereof to said shifting means.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim l, wherein said zero-input means comprise switch means connected between said outside pulse energy source and said input pulse generator means for triggering the latter upon operation of said switch means to issuing said zero-representing input impulse, on one hand, 'and wherein said blocking means comprise delay means connected between said second input means of said start-stop pulse generator means and said switch means for applying upon operation of said switch means a delayed actuating impulse to said start-stop pulse generator means, on the other hand, so as to cause the latter to issue one of said triggering irnpulses subsequently to said zero-representing input impulse.

7. In an electromagnetic shift register arrangement, in combination, at least two chains of ferro-magnetic core members, each chain including a first core member, a last core member and at least one intermediate core member, said core members being capable of assuming a first and an opposite second state of magnetization, the first of said states representing stored information; input means for applying storage impulses of predetermined polarity to said two chains of core members and including a first input winding on at least said first core member of each of said chains and input pulse generator means connected for injecting storage impulses into said first input windings and for thereby changing the state of magnetization of said first core member of each of said chains from said second to said first state thereof; shifting means, one `for each chain, respectively, and including at least one shift winding on each of said core members, respectively, said shift windings being connected in series with each other as a set to carry shift impulses applied thereto, and shift pulse generator means, one for each chain, respectively, and connected for, and capable of, injecting a series of said shift impulses with predetermined polarity into said set of shift windings for shifting -thereby stored information along the respective chain of core members 'by changing the state of magnetization of the respective core members; output means for delivering output impulses from said last core member of each of said chains when `after storage of information therein a shifting impulse is applied thereto, said output means including at least one output winding on the respective last core member; circuit means including first gate means connected between said output winding on said last core member of one of said chains and said input winding on said first core member of the other chain; second circuit means including second gate means connected between said output winding on said last core member and said input winding on said first core member of each of said chains, respectively, so that each of said chains is connected as a ring circuit when said second gate means is in open condition; impulse-responsive control means, one for each chain, respectively, and connected between the respective output means and the respective shift pulse generator means for being actuated by said output impulses and for preventing, upon actuation by one of said output impulses, the application of further shifting impulses out of said series thereof to the respective shifting means, third gate means arranged respectively -between each of said impulse-responsive control means and the respective output means, all of said gate means being individually and selectively operable to be placed in open condition depending upon which type of operation of said chains is deaired; and complement-control means for forming in either one of said chains of core members information storage representing the complement of a digit value represented by information stored in any one of said core members relative to a predetermined numerical reference value, said complement-control means comprising Zero-input means for causing first the application of a Zero-representing input impulse from said input pulse generator means to said first input winding of said first core memer, and comprising blocking means for permitting the application of a shifting impulse to said set of shift windings only subsequently to said zero-representing input impulse, so that upon stopping the application of shifting impulses said complement value is stored in the respective chain.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the parameters of said charging and discharge circuits are chosen in relation to the associated switching members in such a manner that the discharge current from said discharge circuits charged by said differential current derived from one of said switching members is applied to said shift winding of the next following switching member through a time period ending only after the shifting impulse causing said differential current has terminated.

9. A two-way shift register, comprising, in combination, a plurality of switching means each including a ferromagnetic core member having a substantially rectangular hysteresis loop characteristic and a first and a second remanent state of magnetization, one of said states representing stored information, the other state representing no information stored, each of said core members being provided with a first and a second shift winding, all of said first windings being connected in series as a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in a first direction, all of said second windings being connected in series as a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in an opposite direction; input means for alternatively applying single shifting impulses to either one of said sets of series-connected shift windings in the respective direction for changing with every impulse said one rcmanent state of the core of one of said switching means to its other state without affecting the other remanent state of the other cores, and for causing a counter-voltage of a polarity opposite to that of said impulse to be inductively set up in one of the shift windings of the core of said one of said switching means; a plurality of chargeable storage means respectively connected in parallel with each of said shift windings for being charged by a differential current determined by the difference between the voltage of one of said shifting impulses applied to the respective shift winding and the counter-voltage set up therein by a change of remanent state of the pertaining core, if effected by said shifting impulse; a plurality of discharge circuits respectively connected between said chargeable storage means associated with each of said switching means and a shift winding of the next adjacent switching means for discharging across the latter and for changing the remanent state of the latter to its stored information representing state; a plurality of first rectifier means respectively arranged between each of said shift windings and the next following shift winding of the particular sct of shift windings for permitting the transmission of a shift mpulse from winding to winding of such set in the pertaining one of said directions, while blocking a counter-voltage set up in a shift winding from being applied to the next adjacent shift winding in the opposite direction; and a plurality of second rectifier means respectively arranged in circuit with each of said chargeable storage means for permitting the charging of the particular storage means upon changing of the remanent state of the core member of the associated switching means while blocking the discharge of the particular storage means across the shift winding of the associated switching means, whereby stepwise shifting of stored information from core member to following core member is caused by application of single shifting impulses independently in either direction of the register.

10. A two-way shift register, comprising, in combina- 2l tion, a plurality of switching members each including a ferromagnetic core member having a substantially rectangular hysteresis loop characteristic and a first and a second remanent state of magnetization, one of said states representing stored infomation, the other state representing no information stored, each of said core members being provided with a first and a second shift winding, all of said first shift windings being connected in series as a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in a first direction, all of said second shift windings being connected in series as a set to transmit shifting impulses applied thereto in an opposite direction, any one of said core members being in one of said remanent states being capable of being changed to its other remanent state by the application of a shifting impulse of corresponding polarity to one of said sets of shift windings while the other ones of said core members being in the other remanent state remain unchanged by said shifting impulse, each of said switching members being capable of setting up a counter-voltage opposite to that of a shifting impulse applied to the respective shift winding thereof provided that the remanent state of the particular core member is changed to the respectively opposite state by such shifting impulse; a plurality of charging circuits respectively associated with each of said first and second shift windings, each charging circuit including a capacitor means connected in parallel with the respective shift winding between the input thereof and a junction point between the output of the respective shift winding and the input of the next following shift winding of the particular set of shift windings for being charged by a differential current determined by the difference between the shifting impulse voltage applied to the particular shift winding and said counter-voltage set up therein by the change of the remanent state of the pertaining core effected by such shifting impulse; a plurality of discharge circuits respectively associated with each of said first and second shift windings, each of said discharge circuits including resistance means respectively connected between the input of a particular capacitor means associated with a particular shift winding and the output of the next following shift winding of the particular set of shift windings for discharging through said next following shift winding a charge applied to the particular capacitor means by the change of remanent state caused in the core of the preceding switching member and for thereby changing the remanent state of the core member associated with said next following shift winding; a plurality of first rectifier means respectively arranged between the output of each of said shift windings and said junction point between the particular shift winding and the input of the next following shift winding of the particular set of shift windings for permitting the transmission of a shifting impulse from winding to winding of such set in the pertaining one of said directions, while blocking a countervoltage set up in a shift winding from being applied to the next adjacent shift winding in the opposite direction; and a plurality of second rectifier means respectively arranged within said charging circuits between the input of each of said shift windings and the input of the associated capacitor means for permitting the charging of the particular capacitor upon changing of the remanent state of the core member of the associated switching member while blocking the discharge of the particular capacitor across the shift winding of the associated switching member.

11. A two-way shift register as claimed in claim l0, wherein the parameters of said charging and discharge circuits are chosen in relation to the associated switching members in such a manner that the discharge current from said discharge circuits charged by said differential current derived from one of said switching members is applied to said shift winding of the next following switching member through a time period ending only after the shifting impulse causing said differential current has terminated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,502,360 Williams Mar. 28, 1950 2,923,472 Whitney Feb. 2, 1960 2,979,702 Zarcone et al Apr. 11, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 709,408 Great Britain May 26, 1954 

1. IN AN ELECTROMAGNETIC SHIFT REGISTER ARRANGEMENT, IN COMBINATION, AT LEAST ONE CHAIN OF FERRO-MAGNETIC CORE MEMBERS, INCLUDING A FIRST CORE MEMBER, A LAST CORE MEMBER AND AT LEAST ONE INTERMEDIATE CORE MEMBER, SAID CORE MEMBERS HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR HYSTERESIS CHARACTERISTIC AND BEING CAPABLE OF ASSUMING A FIRST AND AN OPPOSITE SECOND STATE OF MAGNETIZATION, THE FIRST OF SAID STATE REPRESENTING STORED INFORMATION; INPUT MEANS FOR APPLYING STORAGE IMPULSES OF PREDETERMINED POLARITY TO SAID CHAIN OF CORE MEMBERS AND INCLUDING A FIRST INPUT WINDING ON AT LEAST SAID FIRST CORE MEMBER AND INPUT PULSE GENERATOR MEANS CONNECTED FOR INJECTING STORAGE IMPULSES INTO SAID FIRST INPUT WINDING AND FOR THEREBY CHANGING THE STATE OF MAGNETIZATION OF SAID FIRST CORE MEMBER FROM SAID SECOND TO SAID FIRST STATE THEREOF; SHIFTING MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SHIFT WINDING ON EACH OF SAID CORE MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, SAID SHIFT WINDINGS BEING CONNECTED IN SERIES WITH EACH OTHER AS A SET TO CARRY SHIFT IMPULSES APPLIED THERETO, AND SHIFT PULSE GENERATOR MEANS CONNECTED FOR, AND CAPABLE OF, INJECTING A SERIES OF SAID SHIFT IMPULSES WITH PREDETERMINED POLARITY INTO SAID SET OF SHIFT WINDINGS FOR SHIFTING THEREBY STORED INFORMATION ALONG SAID CHAIN OF CORE MEMBERS BY CHANGING THE STATE OF MAGNETIZATION OF THE RESPECTIVE CORE MEMBERS, SAID SHIFT PULSE GENERATOR MEANS HAVING INPUT MEANS FOR RECEIVING TRIGGERING IMPULSES AND BEING CAPABLE OF ISSUING SAID SERIES OF CONSECUTIVE SHIFTING IMPULSES AS LONG AS TRIGGERING IMPULSES ARE APPLIED TO SAID INPUT MEANS; OUTPUT MEANS FOR DELIVERING OUTPUT IMPULSES FROM SAID LAST CORE MEMBER WHEN AFTER STORAGE OF INFORMATION THEREIN A SHIFTING IMPULSE IS APPLIED THERETO, SAID OUTPUT MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE OUTPUT WINDING ON SAID LAST CORE MEMBER; IMPULSE-RESPONSIVE CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID OUTPUT MEANS AND SAID SHIFT PULSE GENERATOR MEANS FOR BEING ACTUATED BY SAID OUTPUT IMPULSES AND FOR PREVENTING, UPON ACTUATION BY ONE OF SAID OUTPUT IMPULSES, THE APPLICATION OF FURTHER SHIFTING IMPULSES OUT OF SAID SERIES THEREOF TO SAID SHIFTING MEANS, SAID IMPULSE-RESPONSIVE CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING A MONOSTABLE START-STOP PULSE GENERATOR MEANS HAVING OUTPUT MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID INPUT MEANS OF SAID SHIFT PULSE GENERATOR MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING SAID TRIGGERING IMPULSES, RESPECTIVELY, THERETO, AND FIRST INPUT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ONE OUTPUT WINDING OF SAID LAST CORE MEMBER FOR RECEIVING SAID OUTPUT IMPULSES THEREFROM, AND SECOND INPUT MEANS CONNECTED TO AN OUTSIDE PULSE ENERGY SOURCE FOR RECEIVING ACTUATING IMPULSES, SAID MONOSTABLE PULSE GENERATOR MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF ISSUING SAID TRIGGERING IMPULSES WHENEVER ACTUATED BY ONE OF SAID ACTUATING IMPULSES, AND OF DISCONTINUING SAID TRIGGERING IMPULSES WHENEVER ONE OF SAID OUTPUT IMPULSES IS APPLIED THERETO; AND COMPLEMENT-CONTROL MEANS FOR FORMING IN SAID CHAIN OF CORE MEMBERS INFORMATION STORAGE REPRESENTING THE "10"-COMPLEMENT OF A DIGIT VALUE REPRESENTED BY INFORMATION STORED IN ANY ONE OF SAID CORE MEMBERS, SAID COMPLEMENT-CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING ZERO-INPUT MEANS FOR CAUSING FIRST THE APPLICATION OF A ZERO-REPRESENTING INPUT IMPULSE FROM SAID INPUT PULSE GENERATOR MEANS TO SAID FIRST INPUT WINDING OF SAID FIRST CORE MEMBER, AND COMPRISING BLOCKING MEANS FOR PERMITTING THE APPLICATION OF A SHIFTING IMPULSE TO SAID SET OF SHIFT WINDINGS ONLY SUBSEQUENTLY TO SAID ZERO-REPRESENTING INPUT IMPULSE. 